40 THE GRAPE. 



found mixed with pectin. The existence of one of 

 these bodies (gum or mucus) in grape juice cannot be 

 doubted, although it is not mentioned in Beltz's im- 

 perfect analysis. Alcohol precipitates them with 

 pectin, and if strong alcohol be added to the grape 

 juice of our country (Holland), it will be seen that 

 they are precipitated, though in small quantity. 



It has not been ascertained that gum or vegetable 

 mucus are the only matters forming the integuments 

 of the ferment-cells, which consist of cellulose; but 

 there is no doubt that where one of these bodies 

 exists, a considerable portion of such integument is 

 formed by it. 



The quantity present will be considerably dimi- 

 nished as the grape juice changes into wine, and 

 being insoluble in alcohol, what may be produced from 

 cellulose in the formation of ferment, will mostly be 

 precipitated by the development of alcohol in the 

 grape juice, Nevertheless, further on we shall see 

 that gum exists in wine. 



GRAPE-SKINS. 



In the preparation of some wines, the skins and 

 stones, and in many cases, the stalks too, are allowed 

 to ferment. An acquaintance with all these is, there- 

 fore, important to a thorough knowledge of wine. As 

 far as our present object is concerned, there are only 



